Post-World War II Political Concepts and Events

Containment

• An American policy to try and stop communism from spreading to other countries.

• A strategy to promote free trade and economic growth.

• A military alliance formed to counteract NATO.

• A diplomatic approach to foster relations with the Soviet Union.

Comecon

• The Council of Mutual Economic Assistance – to administer its own plan of financial aid to keep the eastern bloc countries happy.

• A military alliance formed to counter NATO in Western Europe.

• A cultural exchange program between Eastern and Western Europe.

• An economic summit held annually in the United States.

Hiroshima Bombing

• On 6 August 1945, the USA dropped an atom bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.

• The USA dropped an atom bomb on Tokyo on 6 August 1945.

• The first atom bomb was tested in New Mexico on 6 August 1945.

• Hiroshima was bombed by the Soviet Union on 6 August 1945.

Marshall Aid

• Financial assistance given by the USA to European countries in 1948 to help them rebuild after World War Two and to stop the spread of communism.

• A military strategy used by the USA to combat the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

• A cultural exchange program initiated by the USA to promote democracy in Europe.

• A trade agreement between the USA and European countries to boost economic growth.

Capitalism

• A system where the government owns all businesses and controls the economy.

• A system of running a country where most businesses are owned by private companies or individuals, not the government.

• A system that promotes equal distribution of wealth among all citizens.

• A system where businesses operate without any regulations or laws.

Nagasaki Bombing

• 9 August 1945, the USA dropped a second atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Nagasaki, killing around 74,000 people.

• 6 August 1945, the USA dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, killing approximately 140,000 people.

• 9 August 1945, the USA dropped a conventional bomb on Nagasaki, causing significant damage but no casualties.

• 15 August 1945, Japan announced its surrender after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Communism

• A system where all means of production are owned by the community as a whole, with no private property.

• A political ideology that promotes individual ownership and free markets.

• A form of government where a single party controls all aspects of life.

• A system that allows for social classes and private property.

Iron Curtain Speech

• 5 March 1946, in a speech at Fulton in the USA, Winston Churchill condemned the Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe.

• A famous novel written by Winston Churchill in 1946.

• A military strategy proposed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

• A diplomatic agreement signed in 1946 between the USA and the USSR.

Yalta Conference

• February 1945, ‘the Big Three’ – Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin met at Yalta.

• July 1945, the leaders of the Allied powers met in Berlin.

• March 1946, the United Nations was established in San Francisco.

• January 1944, the Axis powers signed a peace treaty.

Truman Doctrine

• Established in 1947 by President Harry S Truman, this policy provided US military and financial aid to countries that were at risk of being taken over by communists.

• A policy that aimed to promote democracy in Eastern Europe after World War II.

• A military strategy used by the US during the Vietnam War.

• An economic plan to rebuild Europe after World War II.